Page 14 - 2023 - Q4 - Minerva in Focus
P. 14

SIRE 2.0




            “                   Minerva has been at the                          servation is written, it cannot be removed;
                                                                                 only further comments can be added, and
                                                                                 if  marked  as  “Not  Answered”,  it  must be
                                                                                 substantiated. Consequently, gone are the
                              forefront of the transition                        days when the Master could negotiate the
                                                                                 observation list with the inspector during
                                                                                 the closing meeting.
                             phase, having been sponsored
                              by an Oil Major to contribute                      The report format and observation meth-
                                                                                 odology  are  also  new.  Each question
                             to the SIRE 2.0 development,                        includes components of Hardware, Proce-
                             and collaborating with OCIMF                        dural and Human performance, and each
                                                                                 one of these components can lead to a
                                  during the extensive                           separate observation. This means that any
                                     testing phase                               SIRE 2.0 question has the potential to result
                                                                        ”        have also noticed that the average number
                                                                                 in multiple observations. In our trials, we
                                                                                 of observations issued has risen for our
                                                                                 fleet from approximately 2 to about 6 with
                                                                                 the new inspections.

                                              SIRE 2.0 has several other changes, such   There are of course several benefits with
                                              as the removal of the administrative com-  SIRE 2.0. The new inspection regime will
                                              ponents from the vessel. All information   allow for both loading and discharge SIRE
                                              required by the inspector, a process which   inspections to be valid, giving us the ability
                                              usually took about 3 hours in the Masters   to schedule inspections more effective-
                                              Office, is now submitted in advance by   ly and share the load among the crew.
                                              the office. About 36 standard photos of   Moreover, the inspector’s tablet includes
                                              the vessel are also submitted beforehand.   substantial guidance on the question set,
                                              The inspector is thus familiarised with the   which is also available to us. Each question
                                              vessel before arriving on board, being ac-  comes with a comprehensive list of po-
                                              quainted with all the vessel’s information,   tential grounds for negative observations;
                                              certificates, key dates, general photos, etc.   thus, the inspector cannot deviate and
                                              Despite the elimination of the adminis-  issue observations based on personal in-
                                              trative process, the inspection duration   terpretations. The inspector may also add
                                              remains at 8 hrs, so the time saved is now   positive observations related to the crew’s
                                              used for extra crew interviews and inspec-  observed performance.
                                              tion around the vessel.
                                                                                 In the coming weeks, the SIRE 2.0 familiar-
                                              The inspector conducts the inspection us-  isation process will be further enhanced
                                              ing a tablet, which includes all the inspec-  with a seafarers’ guide, which will contain
                                              tion information and also monitors the   comprehensive  guidance  on  each  of the
                                              inspector’s progress on board. This ensures   new questions, along with SMS references,
                                                               that the inspector   so as to best prepare the crew for an in-
                                                               cannot spend most   spection. Additionally, we aim for as many
                                                               of his time within   vessels as possible to carry out a SIRE 2.0
                                                               a ship’s office, but   trial inspection in order to best familiarise
                                                               follows the inspec-  the crew with it.
                                                               tion flow around the
                                                               vessel and engages   In closing, I would like to mention that
                                                               in interviews to fill   Minerva has been at the forefront of this
                                                               the 8-hour time   transition phase, having been sponsored
                                                               frame. The fact that   by an Oil Major to contribute to the SIRE
                                                               the report is written   2.0 development, and collaborating with
                                                               in real time poses   OCIMF during the extensive testing phase.
                                                               additional  issues,  Minerva’s role in INTERTANKO, as well as
                                                               as all observations   being chair of the Vetting committee, en-
                                                               must be document-  sures our direct relationship with OCIMF
                                                               ed on the spot and   and the Oil & Gas Majors, allowing us to
                                                               may also include   provide constructive feedback on the new
                                                               photos. Once an ob-  regime for a smooth rollout.


          14 MINERVA IN FOCUS – ISSUE 26 / Q4 2023
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